Sound generating device

ABSTRACT

A sound or signal generating device of the type producing a brief sharp snap or click sound. An enclosed housing open at the front defines an acoustic chamber accessible through the front. A resilient flexure member or plate is located in the chamber having a length coextensive therewith and having ends captive therein. Digital pressure on the mid-portion of the plate causes buckling of the plate between the ends to produce an audible snap or click.

States atent 11 1 1111 3,902,272 Mnlenaar Sept 2, 1975 SOUND GENERATING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Lester V. Molenaar, Box 777, W. T Exam" 1er LOmS Mance ne 40 win Minn Assistant Exammer-Robert Cutting PP -I 495,5 8 A sound or signal generating device of the type producing a brief sharp snap or click sound. An enclosed 52 us. 0. 46/189 musing oPen at the fmm defines amustic Chamber 511 1111. C1? A63H 5/00 accessible through the A resilient flexure [58] Field of Search 46/189 175 Plate is located in the chamber having a length coextensive therewith and having ends captive therein. [56] References Cited Digital pressure on the mid-portion of the plate causes buckling of the plate between the ends to produce an UNITED STATES PATENTS audible Snap or click 724,545 4/1903 Conklin 46/189 749,482 1/1904 Geisert 46/189 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 SOUND GENERATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Noise or sound generators are in common use as recreation devices in addition to being used to generate audio signals such as for the training of animals, or obtaining the attention of a group of individuals in an as sembled meeting.

A popular form of sound generatoris that type sometimes called a cricket and having a resilient plate fixed at one end to a rigid base. Upon deflection of the opposite or free end, the plate buckles producing an audible snap or click. The plate again clicks as it returns to its equilibrium or unflexed position. The plate may have an indented portion to emphasize the buckling effect. The relatively sharp edges of the free end of the plate are necessarily exposed. This produces a threat of danger to children and others. In addition, the exposed free end is vulnerable to damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a noise or signal generating device of the type employing a buckling member or plate to produce a sharp click or snap. The device includes a housing having side walls connected by end walls and a back wall to define an acoustic chamber. A resilient, flexible plate is located in the chamber and has a length coextensive with the length of the chamber. Means are provided for support of the plate ends. The plate ends are captive in the housing whereby there are no sharp, exposed edges. The plate is adapted to flex about the ends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the back wall. Access to the plate is gained through the open front. In response to digital pressure on the mid-portion thereof, the plate buckles and produces a click or snap. Upon returning to the equilib rium position after the digital pressure is removed, the plate again clicks or snaps. The acoustical chamber accentuates the noise produced by the plate. At the same time, the housing provides a relatively strong device.

Preferably the flexure plate is provided with an indentation which inverts upon the buckling of the plate to further accentuate the noise produced thereby.

An object of the invention is to provide a sound generating device of the type described having a buckling plate without exposed edges. A second object is to provide such a device having an acoustical chamber to emphasize the sound produced by the flexure plate. A further object of the invention is to provide such a device having a housing which is strong and durable. Further objects of the invention will become apparent upon the following description.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a sound generating device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. I taken along the line 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sound generating device of FIG. 2 taken along the line 2 2 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the sound generating device as shown in FIG. 2 but with the flexure plate in a flexed position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of one comer of the device shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown the sound generating device of the invention, indicated generally at 10, having a housing 11 and an elongated, flexible resilient plate 12. Housing 11 is generally rectangular and includes integral side walls 13, 13 connected by end walls 14, 14 and a back wall 15, defining an interior acoustic chamber 17. The front face is open,providing access to chamber 17. Housing 11 may conveniently be integrally constructed of molded plastic or a similar material. A pair of plate end support members 19, 19 is located at each end of chamber 17 adjacent end Walls 14, 14 extending part way up end walls 14, 14.,

Flexure plate 12 is generally rectangular and spans chamber 17, having a length coextensive with the length thereof. Flexure plate 12 is a relatively stiff but flexible, resilient member having a memory, as a leaf spring, adapted to be flexed under digital pressure and to return to the unflexed position upon the release of digital pressure.

Flexure plate 12 may be formed of spring steel or of a suitable plastic, or the like. The ends 20, 20 of flexure plate 12 are supported on support members 19, 19. At the upper edge of each end wall 14, 14 is an inwardly directed lip 21, 21 extending over the ends 20, 20 of plate 12. Lips 21, 21 may be formed by turning inward the upper edge of the end walls l4, 14 after plate 12 has been assembled in chamber 17. The ends 20, 20 of plate 12 are held captive within chamber 17 by the lips 21, 21. Flexure plate 12 is thus maintained in chamber 17 and has no exposed, potentially dangerous edges. A plurality of guide rails 23 are vertically disposed and located along the interior surfaces of side walls 13, 13 to guide the side edges of flexrure plate 12 as well as to provide strength to the housing structure.

Flexure plate 12 is orientated in chamber 17 adapted to be resiliently and quickly buckled upon the application of digital pressure to thus produce a click or a snap. Upon release of the digital pressure, flexure plate 12 resiliently returns to the unflexed or unbuckled orientation and, in doing so, produces another click or snap. Located intermediately along the length of flexure plate 12 is an outwardly projected indentation 24 formed by suitable means such as a punch or a press. Indentation 24 presents a raised portion relative to the surface of flexure plate 12 and serves to accentuate the click produced by the flexure plate 12 by inverting upon the buckling of the flexure plate 12. Indentation 24 also imparts a slight longitudinal bow in flexure plate 12 whereby flexure plate 12 passes through an over-center position upon buckling.

In the use of the sound generating device 10, a finger 25 is placed over the flexure plate 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, preparatory to producing a sound. Finger 25 applies digital pressure to plate 12 at indentation 24. As shown in FIG. 4, upon the application of sufficient digital pressure, the plate 12 suddenly buckles, the indentation 24 inverting at the same time. This produces a first click. The mid-portion of plate 12 is flexed down into chamber 17 with the ends 20, 20 resting on end supports 19, 19. The ends are contained within the chamber 17 and there are no exposed edges. Upon release of the digital pressure, flexure plate 12 snaps back to its original orientation as shown in FIG. 2, producing a second click. The inversion of indentation 24 accentuates the sound produced by sound generating device 10. Additionally, chamber 17 accentuates the sound.

The flat expanse of the back wall may be used for a design, a trademark, a slogan, or other advertising.

while there is shown and described one embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that further embodiments of the invention are obtainable without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A sound generating device comprising: a housing defining an acoustical chamber; one side of said housing being open to said chamber; a flexure plate spanning said open side and having opposite ends located in said housing; support means located in said housing loosely supporting the opposite ends of said fiexure plate whereby said fiexure plate is adapted to be buckled and produce an audible click upon the application of digital pressure to the mid-portion thereof; and means holding the opposite ends of said fiexure plate captive insaid chamber.

2. The sound generating device of claim 1 including: an outwardly extended indentation located on said flexure plate between said ends and adapted to be inverted upon the buckling of said fiexure plate.

3. The sound generating device of claim 1 wherein: said housing includes a pair of side walls connected to a pair of end walls and a back wall defining said chamber, said means holding the ends of said flexure plate captive in said chamber including lips extended inward from the upper edge of the end walls.

4. The sound generating device of claim 3 wherein: said lips are constituted as a turned-in portion of said end walls.

5. The sound generating device of claim 4 wherein: said flexure plate is a rectangular elongate member composed of spring steel.

6. The sound generating device of claim 5 including: an indentation in the mid-portion of said fiexure plate outwardly extended and adapted to be inverted upon buckling of the fiexure plate. 

1. A sound geNerating device comprising: a housing defining an acoustical chamber; one side of said housing being open to said chamber; a flexure plate spanning said open side and having opposite ends located in said housing; support means located in said housing loosely supporting the opposite ends of said flexure plate whereby said flexure plate is adapted to be buckled and produce an audible click upon the application of digital pressure to the mid-portion thereof; and means holding the opposite ends of said flexure plate captive in said chamber.
 2. The sound generating device of claim 1 including: an outwardly extended indentation located on said flexure plate between said ends and adapted to be inverted upon the buckling of said flexure plate.
 3. The sound generating device of claim 1 wherein: said housing includes a pair of side walls connected to a pair of end walls and a back wall defining said chamber, said means holding the ends of said flexure plate captive in said chamber including lips extended inward from the upper edge of the end walls.
 4. The sound generating device of claim 3 wherein: said lips are constituted as a turned-in portion of said end walls.
 5. The sound generating device of claim 4 wherein: said flexure plate is a rectangular elongate member composed of spring steel.
 6. The sound generating device of claim 5 including: an indentation in the mid-portion of said flexure plate outwardly extended and adapted to be inverted upon buckling of the flexure plate. 